Issue - meetings

To consider and endorse, or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services on the proposed decision to delegate authority to the Public Rights of Way and Access Service Manger to award contracts for the delivery of PRoW asset maintenance and vegetation clearance work.

Graham Rusling (Public Rights of Way and Access Service Manager) was in attendance for this item. 

(1)   Mr Hill (Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services) introduced the report which asked the Cabinet Committee to consider and endorse or make recommendations on a proposed decision to delegate authority to the Public Rights of Way and Access Service Manager to award contracts for the delivery of PRoW asset maintenance and vegetation clearance work.

(2)   In response to the report, particular attention was brought to the following:

(i)     The Public Right of Way (PRoW) network extends to 7,000km and a large majority of it is publically maintained highway.

(ii)    The PRoW and Access Service required a wide variety of suppliers and had established contracts with Small & Medium Enterprises (SME) of Kent and East Sussex to carry out the work.

(iii)   In relation to financial implications the annual spend on PRoW asset maintenance and vegetation clearance was around £1.02m. This figure varied depending on income from grants, external funding and budget fluctuations. Work was prioritised in terms of risk and public benefit.

(iv)   The benefit of the proposed arrangement was that it managed risk. The framework contracts were of a scale that provided opportunities for SME contractors to tender for work.

(v)    In relation to vegetation clearance, the contract duration was 5 years with opportunity to extend for a further 2 years allowing the service providers sufficient certainty to invest in specialist equipment and possibly training.

(3)   Resolved that the proposed decision of the Cabinet Member to delegate authority to the Public Rights of Way and Access Service Manager, to award contracts for the delivery of PRoW asset maintenance and vegetation clearance work be endorsed.